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min answer › question first answered

2014-10-29T16:15:22.2220144Z

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2019-08-01

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To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 23
July (HL17210), whether they intend that two thirds of the investment in research
and development, intended to reach 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027, should come from private
sources as announced by Chris Skidmore MP on 10 July.

<p>Reaching the 2.4% ambition will require concerted effort both for government and
for business. Since 2010, businesses and overseas investors have been responsible
for an average of two thirds of gross investment in R&amp;D. The Department is working
with UKRI and other key partners to stimulate private investment in R&amp;D, harness
the latest trends in innovation and make the UK a great place to grow an innovative
business.</p><p> </p>

To ask the Leader of the House, in the light of the impact of climate change on air
quality, transport and health, and forecasts of higher temperatures in future years,
what plans she has to review whether the House should sit in July.

<p>The Government schedules business in the House and proposes dates for Recess with
the agreement of the usual channels. The House needs to sit for as long as there is
business to be completed. The Government has no plans to review whether the House
should sit in July in future years.</p>

<p>There is no definitive source for the number of households that are not connected
to the gas supply network; BEIS estimates these figures by subtracting the number
of domestic gas meters from the estimated number of households.</p><p> </p><p>The
table below shows the latest estimates of households not connected to the gas network
by country of the UK. These estimates are also published down to GB local authority
level within BEIS’ ‘Sub-national estimates of households not connected to the gas
network’ dataset, most recently published in 2018.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Nation</p></td><td><p>Number
of households<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>Estimated number of households not connected
to the gas network<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>23,229,000</p></td><td><p>3,024,000</p></td><td><p>13%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>2,452,000</p></td><td><p>495,000</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>1,342,000</p></td><td><p>225,000</p></td><td><p>17%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Northern
Ireland</p></td><td><p>730,000<sup>2</sup></p></td><td><p>497,000<sup>3</sup></p></td><td><p>68%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>27,753,000</p></td><td><p>4,241,000</p></td><td><p>15%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source:
(1) Sub-national estimates of households not connected to the gas network, BEIS, updated
2018, except for NI see footnote 3; (2) Live tables on household projections, United
Kingdom, 1961-2039, MHCLG 2016 estimate; (3) Transparency Reports 2017, NI Utility
Regulator</p>

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK Space Agency grants for horizontal launch
applications for small satellite launch programmes have been made; and what plans
they have, if any, to provide additional grants for such programmes in the future.

<p>On 4 June 2019, the UK Space Agency announced its intention to award up to £7.85
million, subject to business case, to Spaceport Cornwall and US operator Virgin Orbit
to develop facilities and operational capabilities that would enable small satellite
launch from Cornwall in the early 2020s.</p><p> </p><p>In May 2019, the UK Space Agency
also opened a £2 million Horizontal Spaceport Development Fund to assist future horizontal
spaceports with their plans for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. The
deadline for applications closed on 17 July, and the UK Space Agency is currently
reviewing submitted proposals. Grant awards will be announced in due course.</p>

<p>The UK Chief Medical Officers’ published guidelines in 2011 which recommended that
children and young people aged 5-18 should do a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate
to vigorous intensity physical activity per day.</p><p> </p><p>It is up to schools
to decide what opportunities to offer to pupils to be active, including through a
diverse and challenging physical exercise (PE) curriculum that suits the needs of
all their pupils. Under the Childhood Obesity Plan the government set an expectation
that at least 30 minutes should be delivered in school every day through active break
times, PE, extra-curricular clubs, active lessons, or other sport and physical activity
events.</p><p> </p><p>The government restated this expectation in the School Sport
and Activity Action Plan published earlier this month. A link to the Plan is attached
here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-sport-and-activity-action-plan"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-sport-and-activity-action-plan</a>.</p><p>Through
the action set out in the plan, the government will support schools to offer high
quality PE and activity opportunities and take steps to increase the opportunities
outside of school. As part of the plan, the government has committed to raising awareness
of the appropriate levels of physical activity for children and young people, to align
with updated Chief Medical Officers’ guidance on physical activity which is due in
September 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The department will shortly be issuing procurement guidelines
on the purchase and installation of multi-use games areas (MUGAs) for schools. MUGAs
provide an excellent opportunity to enhance sports facilities for all schools, particularly
those with limited outside space. They can be used all year round, increasing the
ability of schools to help ensure as much sporting provision as possible.</p><p> </p>

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on
23 July (HL Deb, cols 668–70), what plans they have to review access to free school
meals for children who are affected by having no recourse to public funds.

<p>As per the response provided by my noble Friend, Baroness Williams of Trafford,
during the debate on 23 July, decisions around recourse to public funds are made by
the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p>Free school meals are available to disadvantaged families
in receipt of certain qualifying benefits, including children of immigrants and refugees
who are receiving support under Part VI of the Immigration &amp; Asylum Act (1999).</p><p>
</p><p>The Home Office is able to exercise discretion to grant recourse to public
funds where the family would otherwise be destitute. Where this entitles the family
to receive certain benefits, they may also be able to claim free school meals.</p>

<p>The apprenticeship levy is collected by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
from employers with a pay bill in excess of £3 million per year. HMRC publishes monthly
data on apprenticeship levy receipts which can be found at the following link: <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk</a>.
The most recent update was published on 19 July 2019. This update has been attached
and can be found at the following link: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817746/Jun19_Receipts_NS_Bulletin_Final.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817746/Jun19_Receipts_NS_Bulletin_Final.pdf</a>.</p><p>HMRC
will continue to review the appropriate data to put into the public domain regarding
the apprenticeship levy.</p><p> </p><p>The Education and Skills Funding Agency does
not currently require levy-paying employers to register a sector when they set up
an online apprenticeship service account to manage their funds. As we develop the
apprenticeship service, we will continue to review the data we collect to improve
user experience and outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>We already publish detailed data on apprenticeship
starts, including levy-supported starts, and our engagement with employers and sector
bodies to develop our understanding of how apprenticeships work for different sectors.
The most recent update was published on 11 July 2019. All quarterly data releases
include a main commentary which summarises apprenticeship starts by level, framework
or standard, and whether or not they were levy-supported. This commentary has been
attached and is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/815291/Apprenticeships_and_Traineeships_release_July19_main_text.pdf"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/815291/Apprenticeships_and_Traineeships_release_July19_main_text.pdf</a>.
The whole quarterly release is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-july-2019"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-july-2019</a>.</p>

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 23
July (HL17211), which government department will take the lead in developing the Roadmap
referenced following the Spending Review.

<p>Government alone cannot deliver the 2.4% target. The Department is working with
UKRI and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and
industry will work together to achieve this ambition.</p><p> </p>

<p>The department is investing up to £26 million in a breakfast club programme, using
funds from Soft Drinks Industry Levy revenues. This money will kick-start and improve
breakfast clubs in over 1,700 schools. The focus of these clubs has been to target
the most disadvantaged areas of the country – including the Department for Education’s
Opportunity Areas – to help ensure every child gets the best start in life.</p><p>A
contract was awarded to Family Action in March 2018 and will run until March 2020.
Family Action, in partnership with Magic Breakfast, have both been named as the leading
charities responsible for running the Breakfast Club programme. Family Action are
distributing the appropriate funding to participating schools who meet the eligibility
criteria. Family Action has confirmed that they have reached their recruitment target
of 1,775 schools.</p><p>We monitor management information from the programme on an
ongoing basis and will fully review the effectiveness of the programme once the programme
concludes, including the number of children attending. Decisions about any funding
beyond March 2020 will be taken as part of the upcoming Spending Review.</p>

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Duncan of
Springbank on 15 July (HL17173, HL17174, and HL17175), whether any compensation paid
to civil servants has been indicated in the Northern Ireland Office accounting records.

<p>Any compensation payments would be accounted for by the Northern Ireland Office
in line with the guidance in <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/742188/Managing_Public_Money__MPM__2018.pdf"
target="_blank">Managing Public Money</a>. Individual payments of more than the threshold
required under Managing Public Money would be noted separately. Any compensation paid
in respect of litigation would be determined with reference to legal advice.</p><p>
</p><p>In line with previous responses, the Northern Ireland Office will keep its
obligations under review to ensure its requirements under fair employment legislation
are met.</p><p> </p><p>As I answered previously, information on employees’ personal
data is sensitive, in order to comply with DPA requirements, and so I am unable to
comment further.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Images displayed in Stormont House
are refreshed at regular intervals. Current images displayed reflect the culture and
landscapes of Northern Ireland. These are in keeping with the rest of the building
decor. We have no plans to review this policy.</p><p> </p><p>Royal portraits hang
on public display at Hillsborough Castle, and also in the London Office occupied by
the Northern Ireland Office. Other pictures of the Queen are displayed at Stormont
House.</p>